Time period control device



R. P. DE vRls TIME PERIOD CONTROL DEVICE .Filed July 51, l93l4Sheets-Sheet 1 'I I z.

Dec.'11, 1934. R. P. DE VRIES TIME PERIOD CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 31,1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5m MN m w @QMN NN "N F fink 5m N NQ NQN NNM aw H J. -F -T I .i l NWN. g ugh-w Q E "Q 4 Q N awn P x -H i un m. x Lf m 1mm" a gNwx "N 5R. EY E M r. M 1 m w .3: AM a J o 1 a I 8 w b X M m2 .w. a 1 W 1 LU" V1.41 g

Dec. 1 l, '1934.

Dec. 11, 1934.

R. P. DE VRIES TIME PERIOD CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 51, 1931 4Shee'ts-.-Sheet 1 4 Patented use. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES 'PATENT' OFFICEApplication July 31, 19:1, sci-mm. 554,269

the time periods in a cycle of operation and particularly to' a deviceadapted for use with sugar purifying centrifugals to control theduration of certain steps in the refining process.

Centrifugal machines are quite commonly employed in various stages of.the sugar refining process. In the use of these machines the firstoperation consists in starting the porous basket rotating andintroducing the proper amount of sugar magma. The basket continues torotate during the first so-called purging period during which a largeportion of the mother liquor is thrown out through the pores of thebasket and is conducted away. effect of walling up the sugar against theinner surface of the basket and when a large portion of the motherliquor has left the sugar, a spray of water is turned on against thisinner walled surface to remove whatever liquor may still remain adheringto the crystals. At the completion of this spraying period the water isturned off. and the basket continues to rotate during the drying periodfor the purpose of removing the excess water. At the proper timethereafter the power is shut off and brakes are applied to bring thebasket to a stop after which the purified sugar is removed.

It is highly essential for efliciency of operation and uniformity ofproduct that the various time intervals of this process be correct andunvarying for a .given consistency of sugar magma. Thus if the purgingperiod is too long, the sugar will commence to harden against the wallsof the basket with obvious harmful results, or, if too short, the liquorwill not be sufliciently removed and an excess amount of spray waterwill be required for a pure product. An unduly long spraying time mustalways be avoided, to prevent dissolving of the sugar. For efflcientcentrifugal operation not only must the steps in the cycle be uniformbut it is equally important that there be some way of changing thesevarious time periods to correspond with the fluctuations in the-consistency of the sugar magma as 1 different batches are introduced.

It has been recognized in the prior art that the control of these timeperiods should not be left to the judgment of the operative and a numberof devices have been constructed to pro-.

' able control for each of the time periods in a This rapid rotation hasthe complete cycle or they have been so complicated as to make theircost of installment and operation a serious disadvantage.

It is one of my objects to provide a control device of this nature whichwill be accurate in 5 operation and capable of fine adjustment and yetwhich will comprise a relatively small number of working parts.

It is quite common practice to supply a battery of these centrifugalmachines with sugar magma from one-common supply tank which holds alarge amount of material to be processed. In such case the consistencyof the material will always be the same at any one time for eachindividual machine in the battery although it vmay vary withea'ch newsupply with which the supply tank is replenished. As the time periods"in the cycle of operation are determined by the consistency of themagmathose periods should always be the same for each machine in the 20battery and when a new supply of a different consistency is introducedto the main tank all of the machines will require an equal amount ofadjustment. If the fluctuations in consistency are frequent and if thereare quite a number of machines in the battery there will be a corre- Ispondingly large number of adjustments to be made at the same time andit is one of the objects of my invention to provide as a modiflca- Ition of my preferred means a master control device which will make theadjustments for each period in the cycle simultaneously for allcentrifugals in the battery. One essential function of a control deviceof this character is that the mechanism for collective adjustmentpermits independence of centrifugal operation. Thus a device whichrequired that all the centrifugals be started and stopped at the sametime would be impracticalas in operation it is essential that theoperative'be able to scrape out, start and load one centrifugal whilethe others are rotating and not tie up an entire battery of machines forthe length of time required to scrape and load all of them. 1

The prior art includes certain pneumatic control devices which areintended to have afunction similar to that of my individual and mastercontrol machines but these machines have not proven satisfactory due tothe intricacy of the mechanism and the resultant expense of installmentand operation.

These and further objects of my invention will appear from a moredetailed description of the preferred embodiment of my invention takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,--

Fig. 1 is a'diagram of a centrifugal machine electrically connected tomy improved individual control device;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my individual control device;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation view of certain parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4' is a'detail elevation view of certain other parts shown in Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is an elevation view of my master control device;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5 inwhich many of the parts have been omitted for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the centrifugal machine brake operatingmechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation view of the parts shown in Fig. '7 showingthe centrifugal machine starting levers and their connections with thebrake solenoid;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation, partly in section, taken onthe line 9-9 ofFig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of my preferred type of electricallyoperated spray water valve.

In Fig. 1, I have shown-diagrammatically at A a sugar purifyingcentrifugal machine of vacommon type, electrically connected to myimproved control device indicated generally at B. The centrifugalmachine A consists of the usual porous basket 1 suspended from verticalshaft 2 which is rotated by any suitable power operated means, such asthe electric motor 3. Surrounding the basket 1 is the curbing 4providedfor the purpose of carrying away the liquors as they leave thecrude sugar during rotation of the basket. I have indicateddiagrammatically at 5 an electrically operated water valve adapted tointroduce water to the sprayer 6, and at '1 a solenoid adapted to breakthe circuit (not shown) to the motor 3 and operate the brake 8 to stoprotation of the basket 1. Before describing in detail my improvedcontrol device, I will indicate the manner in which the water valve 5 iselectrically operated,- as well as the mechanism by which the solenoid'7 is connected to the brake 8 and to an electric switch in circuit withthe motor 3 to stop the centrifugal machine.

Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 wherein I have shown a type of startingand stopping mechanismwell known to the art, 300, 300 (Fig. '7), in-

dicate a pair of brake shoes fixed to the levers 301, which are pivotedon the common shaft 302 and adapted to be operated by the toggle joints303, 303, which are linked together by a common pivot 310, rotation ofwhich will either contract or expand the brakes against the centrifugalmachine brake drum 290 in a well known manner. Fixed to the shaft 310 isa crank arm 308 which is rotated by the lever 304 to operate the brakes.Lever 304 (Fig. 9) is connected to the hand starting lever 305 by theswivel connection 306, the lever 305 being pivoted at 500. Also fixed tothe pivot, 310 of the toggles 303 is the crank 311 which is connected bymeans of the rod 312 to the. electric starting switch 313 for thepurpose of operating the same to introduce current to the centrifugalmotor 3. By this well known mechanism, rotation of the lever 305 to itsfull line position, as shown in Fig. 9, breaks the toggles 303 torelease the brakes 300 and close the switch 313. Reversal of thisprocess by moving the lever 305 to its dotted line position will stoprotation of the centrifugal machine.

320, dog 316 and lever 321 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFig. 8 to force the said dog 316 into its holding position in engagementwiththe lever 305 to retain the said lever in starting position. If thelever 321 be now manually rotated in a clockwise direction the dog 316will slip out from behind lever 305 to permit its rotation by the spring314 to "oif position. The dog 16 is suitably beveled whereby it willslip into locking position when lever 305 is rotated to its startingposition shown in full lines. The above-described mechanism is wellknown to the art and therefore it is considered that this briefdescription will suflice.

The function of the solenoid 7 is to rotate the retaining dog 316automatically rather than manually as has been common heretofore. Forthis purpose the movable core 330 of the solenoid 7 is connected to onearm of the bell-crank lever 331 by the connecting link 332. The otherarm of bell-crank lever 331 is connected at 333 to a rod 334 which isconnected at 335 with the upper portion of a crank 324 fixed to theshaft 320. It will thus be apparent that when current is intro-.

duced to the solenoid '1 to attract its core 330 and rotate thebell-crank lever 331 ina counterclockwise direction the shaft 320 willbe rotated to move the dog 316 into releasing position to'thereby stoprotation of the centrifugal machine.

InFig. 10 I have shown my preferred type of electrically operated watervalve mechanism. 340 indicates an inlet pipe through which water or anyother suitable spraying liquid is conducted to. the valve chamber 341which communicates with the outlet pipe 342 leadingto the sprayer 6(Fig. 1). The valve mechanism consists of the valve seat 343 into whichfits the lower tapered end of the valve stem 344 which slides looselywithin the cylindrical member 345. The said'member 345 comprises themovable core of a solenoid of the valve 5 and is adapted to be liftedvertically by the electric coil windings 346 through which current isintroduced at certain times through the wires (d) and (0) whose exteriorconnections will be hereinafter more specifically described. When thevalve is in closed position, as shown, with the stem 344 resting againstthe valve seat 343, the sliding core 345'rests against a fixed internalcollar 350 and in this position it will be noticed that there is aslight clearance between the top of the cylindrical core 345 and a head351 formed on the top.end of the. valve stem 344.

' When current is introduced to the windings 346 the core 345immediately rises but does not lift the valve stem 344from its seatuntil the top of 1, 20 indicates a shaft which is constantly driven oustime intervals in the above described cycle of centrifugal operation.This mechanism mcludes two mercury switches indicated at 12 and 13 whichat certain times are actuated to introduce current to the aforesaidsolenoids 346 and '7, respectively. The said mercury switches andsolenoids are connected in multiple series with electric current supplymains (a) and (b) in the following manner,the wire (c) leads from themain (a) to one terminal of the spray solenoid 346 (Fig.

10) of the water valve to the other terminal of which is connected thewire (d) which connects the solenoids 346 in series with the mercuryswitch 12 which is also connected to .the main (b) the wire (g) leadsfrom the main (b) to the brake solenoid 7 which is connected in serieswith the mercury switch 13 by the wire (e), said switch 13-beingconnected to the main' (a) by the wire (I) For the purpose of startingcertain parts in the control device B rotating to measure time, I

have provided a solenoid 10 whose operation will bermore fully describedlater but which is connected at one terminal to the main (a) and at theother terminal to the wire (h) leading to a control starting button orswitch 11 which is connected to the main (b) by the wire (i). Inoperation the workman starts the basket 1 rotating by moving thestarting lever 305 to its full line position, Figs. 1 and 10, and hethen pours the proper-amount of crude sugar magma into the basket. Hethen immediately pushesthe button 11 to start the automatic measurementand control of the time periods. At a certain time thereafter thepurging period will be complete and contact will be made in the switch12 to actuate the water valve 5 to spray water against the sugar for apredetermined length of time, at the completion of which the connectionat 12 will be broken and the water shut ofl. After another predeterminedlength of time the mercury switch 13 will be actuated to operate brakesolenoid 7 to shut off current to motor 3 and apply brakesa to bring thebasket 1 to a stop. 7

Referring now to Fig. 2 in which I have shown more in detail the deviceindicated at B in Fig.

at a slow rate of speed from a source of power indicated at 29 inFig. 1. Loosely mounted on the shaft20, as shown in detail in Fig. 3, isthe sleeve 21 which carries rigidly fixed to it the spray cam 22 and thebrake cam 23. The spray cam 22" consists of a disc substantiallycircular I in shape but eccentrically mounted to produce :designated at51. 'circ'ular disc mounted on center and having an a gradual raisingand lowering of its cam follower 50, the highest portion of the cambeing The cam 23 consists of a abrupt raised portion 75.

Also loosely mounted on the shaft are semicircular collar segments 24and 25 which are maintained in frictional engagement with the shaft 20by the encircling spring 26. The lugs 27 and 28 are formed integral withand perpendicular to thecollar segments 24 and 25, respectively, .65

held stationary by 'certainmechanism herein.- after described.

Erected in proximity to the cams 22 and 23 is the calibratedpost 40which carries at its extremities the blocks 41 and 42 which may slidelengthwise of the post 40 and may be maintained at various elevations bymeans of the thumb screws'43 and 44 respectively. Pivoted at 45 to theupper sliding block 41 isthe lever 46 which carries at one end the camfollower 50 adapted to ride on the top of the cam 22 and be raised andlowered thereby. Mounted on the lever 46 above the cam follower 50 isthe aforesaid mercury switch 12. This switch consists of.

ject in close proximity to, but at a slight distance from, the surfaceof the mercury when the glass vial is in a horizontal position as shown.

- From this arrangement of parts it will be seen that contact is madebetween the terminals 53 when the cam 22 raises its follower 50 torotate the lever 46 about the pivot 45 in a clockwise direction by -asuflicient amount to cause the mercury 52 to flow to the terminal end ofthe vial 47 and contact both points. 7

block 42 is a horizontal member which, as shown in Fig. 4, is bifurcatedat- 61. Pivoted at -30 Extending from one side of the lower sliding 63to a supporting member 62 is'the lever 64 which extends parallel to andadjacent the member 60 and carries at approximately its central portionthe pin 65 received by the bifurcated end 61 of the rigid member 60.Pivoted at to the lever 64 is the bell crank lever 71, the arm 72 ofwhich carries the cam follower 73 which en-" gages the brake cam-23. Theother arm 74 of the bell crank lever 71 carries at its extremity themercury switch 13 which is in all respects identical withithe mercuryswitch 12 described above and which receives the terminals 76 of thebrake solenoid circuit wires (e) and (f). The weight of the arm 74 andmercury switch 13 maintains the follower 73 in engagement with the brakecam'23, the raised portion 75 of which at times rotates the bell cranklever 71 in a clockwise" direction about its pivot 70 to cause themercury inthe switch 13 to make contact across the terminals 76 toactuate the brake solenoid 7.

Rigidly mounted at a fixed elevation on the Post 40 is the block 80 fromone side of which projects" the arcuate member 81 which is slotted at 82to receive the block which is constructed to slide up and down in theslot 82 and be maintained at any desired elevation by the thumb screw91.

Carried by the block 90 is the solenoid 10 which as stated above isconnected in circuit with the push button switch 11 by the wires (:1)and (h). Pivotally mounted at 86 on the cam 22 is a springpressed latch83 adapted to engage a nose 84 on the movable core of the solenoid 10and when m such engaging position to rest against the stop 94 projectingfrom the cam 22 to hold the said cam 22 and the brake cam 23 fromrotating counterclockwise with the shaft 20 as is permitted by theirfrictional driving connection. A spring 87' is connected at one endtothe extremity of the latch 83 and at the other end to the cam 22 toquickly move the latch to a position against a second stop 88 uponretraction of the core 84.

Assuming that the parts are at rest in starting is rotating in acounterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow, the cams 22 and 23remain motionless, due to the fact that the projection 84 is inengagement with the latch 83. Current is now introduced to the solenoid10 to withdraw the projection 84 from its engaging position with thelatch 83 and the frictional drive above described rotates the cams 22and 23 to measure the solenoid 10 is interrupted. The mercury switch 12will now gradually move upwardly and slant downwardly at the terminalend as the forward end of the lever 46 is raised by the gradual highportion 51 of the cam 22. This first portion of the rotation governs thelength of the purging period and it continues until contact is madebetween the terminals 53 which contact causes. allow of current to thespray solenoid 5 to start the spray period, which contact will bemaintained until the high portion 51 has passed and the mercury switch12 again assumes the position where contact across its terminals isbroken. At that instant the spray period terminates and the dryingperiod commences. Shortly thereafter the projection 75 on the brake cam23 will move the, roller 73 to cause a tilting 'of the mercury switch 13to make contact across the terminals 76, which contact is of sufficientduration to actuate the brake solenoid 7. This completes the full cycleof operation in the centrifugal machine but the cams 22 and 23 willcontinue to rotate until the latch 83, now resting against stop 88,again enases the nose 84 and is brought to rest against stop 94.

I have provided in my improved device a series of adjustments, one ofwhich varies the purging time or the time interval from the moment thecentrifugal is placed under the influence of my control device byactuation of the solenoid 10 to the moment when the mercury switch 12 isactuated to turn the wash water on, another adjustment which regulatesthe spraying time or the interval during which contact is made in themercury switch'12 and still another adjustment for the drying periodwhich changes the time interval from the moment when the contact in thespray mercury switch 12 is broken until contact in the brake mercuryswitch 13 is made.

To regulate the duration of electric contact in the spray mercury switch12 the thumb screw 43 may be loosened and the block 41 and pivot 45elevated or lowered to various positions. Assume, for example, that theglass vial 47 of the mercury switch 12 is in an exactly horizontalposition when the follower 50- is resting on the lowest portion of thecam 22 as shown in Fig. 2. Assume also that" the space between .thesurface of the mercury contained in the switch 12 and the extremities ofthe terminals 53 is of such an amount that just one quarter of arotation of the 22 will cause contact to be made. The spray periodcommencing at that moment will occupy the nexthalfrotation of the cam 22and contact will be brokenat the beginning of the lastuuartcr rotationwhich brings the cam 22 back to its initial position. If the block 41benow raised a few notches on the rod 40 the mercury 1,984,302 positionas shown in Fig. 2 and that the shaft 20 switch '12 will be slightlyrotated in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot of the camfollower 50 which will lower the end of the vial 47 opposite to thatreceiving the terminals 53 and cause the mercury to flow to the lowerend and slightly recede from the said terminals. With the parts soadjusted, somewhat more than one quarter of a rotation of the cam 22will be required to bring the glass vial 47 to the position in whichcontact is made across the terminals 53. This contact, which ismaintained during the spray pericd, will be broken at a correspondinglyearlier time and by this adjustment the spraying time has beendecreased. It will be apparent that such a regulation in the sprayingtime also has the effect of increasing the purging period, that is, thetime interval between the moment when the cam 22 commences to rotate tomeasure time and the moment when the spray is turned on. Adjustment oithis purging period, however, can now be made in the following manner.

Again assume that the parts are in their initial position'as shown inFig. 2, except that the adjustment of the spraying time which has justbeen made causes actuation of the spray solenoid when the cam 22 hasrotated from its position as shown to the position where the pointmarked Z on the edge of the cam is directly under the cam follower 50.As thelength of the are on the periphery of the cam 22 between the pointZ counterclockwise to the point where the follower 50 rests on the camin its initial position as shown determines the length of the purgingperiod, this period can be varied by changing the length of that arc. Ifwe now loosen the bolt 90 and move the solenoid 10 downwardly a fewnotches the engagement of the nose 84 with the latch 83 which in turnabuts the pin- 94 will cause a corresponding clockwise rotation of thecam 22,-the frictional driving connection permitting the cam 22 to slipon the shaft 20. If we had desired to shorten the purging period byrotating the cam 22 slightly in a counterclockwise direction to elevatethe starting position of the point Z,v raising of the solenoid 10slightly would have accomplished this purpose as thefrictional drivingmechanism would have caused the latch 83 to follow the nose 84 until itcame to rest in contact therewith at its new adjusted position.

The last adjustmentto be made is that of the drying period time, which,it will be remembered,

is determined by the time at which the brake solenoid 7 is actuated byengagement of the raised portion 75 on the brake cam.23 with itsfollower 73. This adjustment should be made last due to the fact that inchanging the initial position of the spray cam 22 the initial positionofthe raised portion 75 of the cam 23 relative to its follower 73 wasalso changed as the two cams rotateas a unit. The length of the are onthe periphery of the cam 23 from the raised portion 75 counterclockwiseto the point of contact between the cam and the follower 73 at theinitial position of the said cam measures the time period from themoment the cams start to rotate to the moment when the brakes areapplied. The diiference between that length of time and the sum of thelengths oftime of the purging and spraying periods which we have arreadydetermined gives the drying time. If we causes a slight clockwiserotation of the lever I '64, which carries the said pin about its pivot63.

* the .arm 74 without affecting the angle of inclination of the mercuryswitch 13. It should also be noted that by providing the lever 64 andpivoting the bell crank lever '71 to it rather than to the. arm directlythe range of movement of the follower 73 in proportion to thecorresponding movement of block 42 is greatly increased to therebyprovide an increased range ofbraking time adjustment.

By the mechanism above described the various time periodsin the cycle ofoperation of a. single centrifugal machine can be controlledautomatically and adjusted as desired. In practice the post 40 andarcuate member 81 are calibrat d as shown and a number of charts areprepared giving corresponding values in units of time for the calibratedsettings computed on the basis of the speed ofrotation of shaft 20. Inusing these charts the calibrated number corresponding to the desiredtime in seconds for the spraying period is first determined and thespray block 41 adjusted to that number. As the position of the .block 90which determines the purging time is dependent not only on the number ofseconds desired for purging butalso' on the point on the cam 22 at whichcontact will be made in the spray mercury switch 12 which point isalready fixed. by the spray adjustment just made, a secand chart isprovided which gives settings'for. the purging blockv 90 correspondingto various spray block settings and various purging time.

. The last setting to bemade is that of the brake block 42 which fixesthe drying period. For

intervals of convenience of-operation it is desirable to deterpositionof the point Z on cam 22 determined by that setting and the raisedportion 75 are I Y definitely fixed due to the integral constructioncfthe cams 22 and 23 and that therefore a chart can be prepared whichgives settings for the brakeblock 42 to correspond with varioussprayblcck -41 settings and periods of time from spray on to brake .on.

preferred-embodiment of my invention an appa ratus adapted to controlthe various time intervals in the cycle of operation simultaneously fora'battery 'of centrifugals. The principle of operation of my mastercontrolprmits theessen- 'tial independenceof centrifugal operation-Referring now to Figs. 5 and BI will describe a device adaptedtocontrol. a'battery which for purposes of illustration I have assumedto'consist of four centrifugal machines. Correspondingly my controlmechanism comprises four sep-- arate and distmct controlling units inall respects identical, which are mounted on a'commen shaft and linkedtogether by a common adjusting mechanism. As-the description proceeds itwill become apparent that I can provide a controlling mechanism for anynumber of centrifugal machines by the simple expedient of adding theobjects of mytery. 'The A unit is shown in vertical section in Fig. 6and my description of the parts which are duplicated in each unit willbe confined to those shown in theA section although in Fig. 5 I havenumbered some of the like parts of the other units to correspond withthe numberings -in the A section.

I have indicated at an enclosed box-like structure adapted to house myimproved master control device. Joumaled in suitable bearings 126 and127 in the end walls of the casing 125 is the main shaft 128 which iscontinuously driven at a constant rate of speed by any suitable poweroperated means indicated by the sprocket wheel 129. In a manner similar,to that described above for my individual control device thisconstantly driven shaft carries a spray cam and a brake cam for eachcentrifugal, each pair of which cams is mounted on a common sleeve and Iat times rotated by the saidshaft 128'by means of a suitable frictionaldriving connection. 130 indicates one of the sleeves rotatably mountedon the shaft 128 and-carrying rigidly fixed to it the spray cam 131 andthe brake cam 132. As in my individualcontrol device the spray cam'131con- :sists of a disc which is substantially circular in shape buteccentrically mounted toimpart a gradual rising and falling motion toits cam 101- 5 lower 161. The brake cam 132 in my modified form consistspreferably of a circular disc,

mounted on center, which in this case is provided with a depression orrecess 133 which at certain times receives its cam follower 185. Thespring 134 embraces frictional driving collar segments,

attached to the lugs 135 and 136 which lugs in my master control deviceengage the brake cam 132 to drive that cam, the collar 130 and the spraycam 131 being constructed to rotate as a unit in .a manner similar tothat described for my in dividual control driving means.

Extending lengthwise of the machine and parallel to the maindrivingshaft 128 is the shaft 140 which is eccentrically mounted in thebearings- 141 and 142 by means of the reduced, oncenter, end portions143, 144. Rigidly fixed to the reduced end 144 of the shaft 140 is thespray dial 145 having suitable calibrations which co ordinatewith theindex 146. Rotation of this dial turns the shaft 140 eccentrically forpurposes which will be hereinafter described, and it may be maintainedinlprg'per position, as indicated by the dial rnarlcingabira'rdeansJbfthe bolt extending from the end wall of the box 125 through an arcuateslot 151 (Fig. 6) in thedial 145 and receiving the thumb nut 152.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 140 is the collar 153-which'is. maintainedin suitable position lengthwise of the shaft 140 by the retainingcollars 154 and 155 rigidly fixed to the shaft and 162 is graduallyraised to make a mercury contact across the wires (1' and b to actuatethe spray in any desired position by means of the bolt 174 extendingthrough the arcuate slot 175 of the dial- 172 (Fig. 6) and receiving thethumb nut 176. Rigidly mounted on both ends of the shaft 171 are theparallel upwardly extending levers and 181, the upper extremities ofwhich form bearings for the shaft 182. Loosely mounted on the shaft 182is the block 183,,maintained in fixed position longitudinally of theshaft 182 by suitable retaining collars, from one side of which blockextends the lever 184 carrying at its ex-' tremity the cam follower 185resting on the brake cam 132 and also carrying the mercury switch whichreceives the terminals of the brake solenoid wires e and f. In operationthe cam 132 which is circular in shape maintains the brake mercuryswitch 190 in slightly elevated inoperative position until the recess133 arrives in position beneath the roller 185, at which time thelever'184 will drop and mercury switch 190 will be tilted to close thecircuit to the brake solenoid on the first centrifugal machine to stoprotation of its basket.

I will now describe means for starting the spray and brake cams rotatingto measure the time of their; respectively controlled intervals, whichmeans is the same in principle of operation as that of the correspondingmeans in my individual control device, but which differs somewhattherefrom in its method of adjustment.

Rotatably mounted in suitable hearings in the end walls of thecasing 125is the shaft 200 which is adapted to be adjusted to various angularpositions by means of the calibrated dial having the arcuate slot 196adapted to receive the bolt 197 with its thumb nut 198. Rigidly mountedat both ends of the shaft 200 are the gears 210 which are identical inpitch diameter and 'number of teeth and each one of which meshes withone of the gear segments 211 rotatably mounted on the shaft 128. Fixedto each of these gear segments 211 is a-member 212, the lowerextremities of which members are connected by the flat bar 214, whichbar has fixed to it by suitable bolts the solenoid 215. These connectedparts are so designed and assembled that rotation of the shaft 200 in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 will rotate'the gear segments211, cross member 214 and solenoid 215 in a counterclockwise directionin the arcs of concentric circles whose common center is the axis of theshaft 128.

Pivotally mounted at 216 on the spray cam 131 is the spring pressedlatch 217 adapted at times to abut against stop 218 and having an end beoperated. Whencurrent is introduced to the solenoid 215, the projectingend of the core is retracted to permit the end 219 of the latch 217 topass by and the spray and brake cams to rotate. v

So far in my illustration of the master control device I have describedin detail the operation of the spray cam, brake cam and actuatingsolenoid of the A unit which controls the time periods in the operationof the first centrifugal in the tated by a frictional driving mechanism.The

shaft 140 carries four cam operated levers 160,

each one of which carries a mercury switch."

adapted to' operate a spray solenoid. The shaft 182 carries four levers184 each one of which carries a mercury switch 190 adapted tooperate itsbrake solenoid. Fixed to the movable bar 214 are four solenoids 215,each one of which is adapted to hold its respective cams stationaryuntil its core is withdrawn. It will thus be apparent that my mechanismprovides for independence of operation of each control unit and that anyone of them may be set in operation by actuating its solenoid 215irrespective of whether any of the other control units are operating.All of the members of each control unit are assembled in the samerelative position. Thus the brake cams I 132 (Fig. 6) are mounted sothat when the latch 217 is in the position shown against the projection220 of the core of the solenoid the recessed portion 133 in each discwill be in the position shown in that figure. As the lengthof the timeperiods in the various steps in the cycle of operation depends solely onthe relative positions of the parts, these time periods will be the samefor each centrifugal unit irrespective of when that control unit is setin operation.

It is the chief object of my master control to provide mechanism adaptedto regulate the purging, spraying and drying intervals collectively forall centrifugals in the battery by one adjusting mechanism for each ofthose intervals.

On the same theory explained in the description of my individual controlmechanism the duration of the spraying period, which is the firstadjustment to be made, depends upon the angle of iiclination of thespray mercury switch 162. If the thumb nut 152 be loosened and the dial145 turned; the shaft 140 will be eccentrically rotated about the axisof its reduced portions 143 and 144 to tilt each one of the mercuryswitches 162 the same degree and thus change the four spraying periodsthe same amount. The next adjustment is that of the purging time whichcan be varied by turning the dial 195 and its connected shaft 200thereby rotating the gears 210, gear segments 211 and bar 214 with itsfour solenoids 215 and thus setting the four spray and brake came at anew initial position. The final brake adjustmentis obtained by tumingthe dial 172 and shaft171'to swing the shaft 182 toward or away from thecams and thus increase or decrease the are on the four brake cams 132measured in a counterclockwise direction from their recessed portions133 to their respective cam followers 185. It will be noted that thisadjustment will not materially alter the angle of.

inclination of the mercury switch 190.

From the above description it will be apparthe needs of the individualuser without departing from the spirit of my invention which I do notwish' to limit except as indicated in the appended claims. 9

As one example of a modification which has found considerable favoramong. the users of these machines I have frequently provided means forseparating the various grades of liquor as they leave the curbing 4(Fig. 1). Thus in operati'on the liquor which drains from the sugarduring the purging period consists chiefly of impurities which have leftthe'crude sugar and is not of any particular value. At the'completion ofthe purging period when the spray water is'introduced the drainingliquor may contain a fairly large amount of dissolved sugar and a.

lesser amount of impurities and it is desirable, to keep this grade ofliquor separate from that derived from the purging operation. For thispurpose a gate is provided beneath the-spout through which the liquorleaves the curbing 4,

which gate can be moved to direct the liquor into either one of twodrain receptacles. As this gate shifting operation is performed first atthe time the spray is turned on, and in preparation for the next cycleof operation again when the spray water isturned off, I may pro-'vid'e-a useful automatic gate shifting mechanism comprising a gateshifting solenoid similar to the solenoids 5 and '7, which solenoid iselectrically connected in the circuit leading from the spray mercuryswitch 12 to the spray solenoid 5 'to operate simultaneously therewith.

From ,the above description it will also be apparent that I haveprovided a deviceof this nature which strikingly contrasts with theprior art in its extreme simplicity and low cost ofinstallmentand'operation. Some of the prior art machines are so designedthat their time 'me'asuririg elements cannot continue to travel in thetime measuring direction to return the parts to initial position butrequire additional mechanism adapted to reverse the direction of motionofthese parts and retrieve them at the completion of their functions. Itisconsidered that this is not a workmanlike'expedient, par ticularlyinsofar as these machines require an additional manual operationimmediately after the completion of the functions of the time measuringelements, and-that my device is superior insofar as it permits thetime measuring cams 'to continue in their time measuring direction ofrotation after their functions have been performed and finally come torest without shock or undue force being exerted on the adjustable parts.

. There are some prior art devices particularlythose of the pneumatictype which havea function similar to that of my master control device l3 trol means requires individual adjustment and timing but which aresubject to criticism due to the fact that their calibrated adjustmentsare not centralized on one dial which'may' be isolated from thecentrifugal machine itself and kept in a clean and well lighted part ofthe workroom, easily accessible to the'foreman. On thecontrary theyprovide mechanical spray controlling means mounted on the framework ofeach centrifug'al machine, each one of which spray conhence p ives suchprior artcontrol devices oftheir function of master adjustment.

Throughout the description of my individual and. master control devicesI'have described the brakes as being applied at a definite time intervalafter the spray water has been shut off to thereby provide a period ofrotation wherein the sugar may be dried. In practice it is frequentlyadvisable to shut off the power to the centrifugal machine driving motorand apply the brakes at a short time before the spray water is shut off.The common type of centrifugal machine carry-- ing a capacity loadofcrude sugar and rotating at a speed of approximately 1200 R. P. M. canbe brought to a stop in approximately seconds by a full application ofthe brakes. It has been exerted by the rotation of the basket is stillsuflicient to eliminate a large amount of liquor. This period ofrotation which has been increased in time by the lighter brakeapplication must therefore be computed as constituting part of thedrying time and for that reason the adjustments provided in anindividual or master centrifugal control must be of such a nature thatthey permit application of brakes before the completion of the sprayingperiod particularly if a brief drying period is desired. Some of theprior art devices,

particularly of the pneumatic type, do not provide for such anadjustment which is, however, a distinct feature of my invention.

Having described my invention what I wish to claim and secure by LettersPatent is:

1. In a device for automatically controlling the timing of the cycle ofoperation of a centrifugal machine having a wash fluid valve, thecombination of cam mechanism having dwell portions and actuatingportions, shaft means forrotating said cam mechanism during the cycle ofoperation'to measure the timing of the steps constituting the saidcycle, frictional drive means connecting the shaft means and the cammechanism, cam following mea-ns adapted to respond to theconfiguration-of said cam mechanism, means actuated by said camfollowing means to open the wash fluid valve at apredeterminedtime afterthe beginning of the time measuring rotation of the cam mechanism and-to close the said vaive' at a second predetermined time after thebeginning of said rotation, means to vary the initial relative positionsof the actuating portions of the cam mechanism and the cam followingmeans to alter the first of said predetermined time periods and means tovary the extent of said actuating pore tions to alter the second of saidpredeterminedtime periods.

2. In a device for automatically controlling the timing of the cycle ofoperation of acentrifu'gal machine having an electrically operated washfluid valve, the combination of an electric circuit for operating saidvalve, cam mechanism comprising a substantially circular disceccentrically mounted to provide dwell portions and actuating portions,means for rotating said cam mechanism during the cycle of operation tomeasure the ofthe steps constituting-the said cycle,-

cam following means adapted to respond to the configuration of said cammechanism, electric switch means in said circuit and actuated by the camfollowing means to open the wash fluid valve at a predetermined timeafter the beginning of the time measuring rotation of the cam mechanismand to close the said valve at a second predetermined time after thebeginning of said rotation, means to vary the initial relative positionsof the cam mechanism and the cam following means to alter the first ofsaid predetermined time periods and means to vary the initial positionof the electric switch means relative to the cam mechanism to alter thesecond of said predetermined t-ime periods.

3. In a device for automatically controlling the timing of the cycle ofoperation of a centrifugal machine having an electrically operated washfluid valve, the combination of an electric circuit for operating saidvalve, .cam mechanism having dwell portions and actuating portions,means for rotating said cam mechanism during the cycle of operation tomeasure the timing of the steps constituting thesaid cycle, camfollowing means adapted to respond to the configuration of said cammechanism, an electric switch having ter-- minals and a contact in saidcircuit adapted to be opened and closed by the cam following means toopen the wash fluid valve at a predetermined time after the beginning ofthe time measuring rotation of the cam mechanism and to close the saidvalve at a second predetermined time after the beginning of saidrotation, means to vary the initial relative positions of the cammechanism and the cam following means to alter the first of saidpredetermined time periods and means to vary the initial relativepositions of the contact and terminals of the switch to alter the secondof said predetermined periods.

4. In a device for automatically controlling the timing of the cycle ofoperation of a centrifugal machine having an electrically operated washfluid valve, the combination of an electric circuit for operating saidvvalve, cam mechanism comprising a plurality of cams adapted to rotateas a unit, shaft means for rotating said cam mechanism during the cycleof operation to measure the timing of the steps constituting the saidcycle,

. means to arrest rotation of the cam mechanism after a completerevolution in the time measuring direction, means for retracting saidarresting means to release the cam mechanism from its arrested positionfor rotation in the next succeeding cycle, cam following means adaptedto respond to the configuration of said cam mechanism, an electricswitch having terminals and a contact in said circuit adapted to beactuated by said cam following mean-s to open the wash fluid valve at apredetermined time after the beginning of the time measuring rotation ofthe cam mechanism and to close the said valve at a second predeterminedtime after the beginning of said rotation, means actuated by said cammechanism for stopping rotation of the centrif- -ugal at a thirdpredetermined time after the beginning of said rotation, means to varythe position of the arresting means whereby to change the initialposition of the cam mechanism to alter the first of said predeterminedtime periods,

means to vary the initial relative positions of the contact andterminals of the switch to alter the second of. said predeterminedperiods and means centrifugal machines having-a wash fluid valve foreach centrifugal, the combinationof a-time control unit for eachcentrifugal including time measuring means adapted to rotate .tomeasurethe timing in the cycle of its centrifugal, means for rotatingthe time measuring means ofceach ,of the units independently of those oftheotherunits, means for arresting the rotation of the time measuringmeans of each unit when the rotation thereof in the time measuringdirection-after the completion of one cycle has returned it to start;-ing position for the next succeeding cycle, means actuated by each unitfor opening the wash fluid valve of its centrifugal at a predeterminedtime after the beginning of rotation of its time measuring means and forclosing the valve at a second'predetermined time after the beginning ofsaid rotation, means actuated by each unit to stop rotation of itscentrifugal at a third predetermined time after the beginning ofrotation of its time measuring means, means for varying the first ofsaid predetermined time periods simultaneously for all the centrifugals,means for varying the second of said predetermined time periodssimultaneously for all the centrifugals and means for varying the thirdof said predetermined time periods simultaneously for all thecentrifugals whereby the time periods in the cycles of all thecentrifugals are independently controlled and collectively variable.

6. In a device for automatically controlling the timing of the cycles ofoperation of a battery of centrifugal machines having a wash fluid valvefor each centrifugal, the combination of a time control unit for eachcentrifugal including time measuring means adapted to rotate to measurethe timing in the cycle of its centrifugal, means for rotating the timemeasuring means of each of the units independently of those of the otherunits, means for arresting the rotation of the time measuring means ofeach unit when the rotation thereof in the time measuring directionafter the completion of one cycle has returned it to starting positionfor the next succeeding. cycle, means actuated by each unit for openingthe wash fluid valve of its centrifugal at a predetermined time afterthe beginning of rotation of its time measuring means and for closingthe valve at a second predetermined time afterthe beginning of saidrotation, means for varyingthe first of said predetermined time periodssimultaneously for all the centrifugals, and means for varying thesecond of said predetermined time periods simultaneously for all thecentrifugals whereby the time periods in the cycles of all thecentrifugals are independently controlled and collectively variable.

' vI. In a device for automatically controlling the timing of the cyclesof operation of a battery of centrifugal machines having a wash fluidvalve for each centrifugal, the combination of a time control unit foreach centrifugal including time measuring means adapted to rotate tomeasure the timing in the cycle of itscentrifugal, means for rotatingthe time measuring means of each of the units independentlyof those ofthe other units, means for arresting the rotation of the time measuringmeans of each unit when the rotation thereof in the time measuringdirection after the completion of one cycle has returned it to startingposition for the next succeeding cycle, means actuated by each unit foropening the wash fluid valve of its centrifugal at a predetermined timeafter'the beginning of rotation of its time measuring means and forclosing the trifugals.

8. In a device for automatically controlling the timing of the cycles ofoperation of a battery of centrifugal machines having a wash fluid valvefor each centrifugal, the combination of a time control unit for eachcentrifugal including cam mechanism adapted to rotate to measure thetiming in the cycle of its centrifugal, means for rotating the cammechanism of each of the units independently of those of the otherunits, cam following means for each of the units adapted to respond tothe configuration of its cam mechanism, means actuated by the camfollowing means of each unit to open its wash fluid valve at apredetermined time after the beginning of the time measuring rotation ofits cam mechanism and to close the said valve at a second predeterminedtime after the beginning of said rotation,

, means actuated by the cam following means of each unit for stoppingrotation of its centrifugal at a third predetermined time after thebeginning of said rotation, means for varying the first of saidpredetermined time periods simultaneously for all the centrifugals,means for varying the second of said predetermined time periodssimultaneously for all the centrifugals and means for varying the thirdof said predetermined time periods simultaneously for all centrifugalswhereby the time periods in the cycles of all the centrifugals areindependently controlled and collectively variable. a

9. In a time period control device the combination of a cam having dwellportions and actuating portions, cam following means comprising a leverhaving one end in engagement with the cam and its other end pivoted to asupport in proximity to the cam, an electric circuit including a fluidswitch mounted on the lever and havingpontact means for closing thecircuit with the fluid upon actuation of the cam following means by thecam and means for varying the position of the pivoted end of the leverwhereby to change the duration of contact between the fluid and saidcontact means during each revolution of the cam.

10. In a device for automatically controlling the time periods in acycle of operation comprising a plurality-of steps, the combination of aplurality of cams each having dwell and actuating portions, means forrotating said cams to measure time, cam following means adapted torespond to the configuration of one of said cams, means actuated by saidcam following means to perform two consecutive steps in said cycle,means to vary the extent of the actuating portion of the cam to alterthe time period of the second of said steps, means to vary the initialposition of the cam following means relative to the actuating portion ofthe said cam as thus varied to alter the time period of the first ofsaid steps, a second cam following means adapted to respond to theconfiguration of a second of said cams, means actuated by said secondcam following means to perform a third step in said cycle and means tovary the initial relative positions of the actuating portion of the saidsecond cam and its said cam followingmeans to alter the time period of,the third of said steps.

REINIER P. DE VRIES.

